Life, Love, Spiritual Living and the odd Catastrophe…..

The best laid plans…………

There are so many things I had planned to do this week, from the ordinary mundane of going shopping to the obligatory visit to my Lyme doctor. Yet the best laid plans often go awry. I wanted to inject a little light-hearted anticipation into the week instead of following the same routine as always. Then only feeling tired at the end of getting all the ‘to do’ list done, but nothing that really made me crack that “I’ve had a wonderful experience smile,” which has been missing for too long. It didn’t need to be anything astronomical, or expensive, just something my husband and I could do, out of our normal routine and lighten the everyday routine. Remember, best laid plans and all that jazz.

Okay, this was going to be a little easier than I thought, when I realised my doctor’s appointment was at 7pm. It’s a three-hour drive up to see him, which meant that it would be a long day for me if we made a round trip when we couldn’t leave until after 8.30pm. Checking out the local Bed and Breakfast places in Maleny or close by wasn’t very hopeful at first. It’s a beautiful place to visit and at this time of year, coming into summer, even more so. So when we found a lovely place at Wootha, available for us, it was an immediate winner. At the top of the range and overlooking the valley towards the Glasshouse mountains, I could feel the tension draining away just thinking about it. But I forgot about Murphy’s Law and the best laid plans warning. I sent up my request to my angels for a nice break and off we went.

Wootha towards Glasshouse Mountains

Misty morning mountains

Beautiful old tree

Glasshouse Mountains

Across the mountains towards Brisbane

Huge Bunya Pine

Even in the air conditioning of the car it was hot. I don’t travel well in the heat and the medication has my blood and body super heated at the ‘best’ of times just now. The blazing sun beat mercilessly through the windscreen like a well stoked furnace. I have a magnificent case of hives so the heat was adding a new dimension to the itchy torture. (Best laid plans again). But distracted by the scenery, we arrived and breathed a sigh of relief. It’s amazing what a heartfelt plea for relief can do to ease sorely troubled minds and bodies. Unpacked, a quick refresher and off to the local ice cream shop for one of the most magnificent ice cream cones imaginable. All locally sourced produce and heavenly taste. For one of the very rare times, brain freeze was – worthwhile.

Apart from a long discussion of what’s next, needing to return early the next morning for bloods to be taken, there were no real surprises from the doctor. We had been looking forward to a sleep in and leisurely breakfast, but we could get around that too. Our hosts were only too gracious in offering to let us have breakfast after the test. I was woken through the night by the sound of an unusual barking noise. Not a dog but a fox barking to her young. After a look outside under the full moon, where of course I could see nothing, I returned to my comfortable bed to listen to the possums running across the roof and into the trees, noisily talking to one another.

We awoke to the sounds of the Rainbow Lorikeets making a raucous noise around the bend in the verandah where the owners fed them each day. It really was a colourful display.

Sleeping on a cloud

A beautiful view to the mountains

Giant Tree Fern

Rainbow Lorikeet feeding frenzy

Forest Pigeon

Fire tailed Finch

Off to the doctor and a small procedure later I was waiting for the nurse to take blood. That’s when things went ‘off plan’. My ‘best laid plan’ went up in smoke, but not up the needle. Once, twice, three times and still no blood. Again – once, twice, three times and as she removed the needle the blood flowed freely – too late! I was feeling hot and more than a little bothered. I heard someone say “adrenal surge’ after the procedure and I would have to see the collection office in town. Oh well, it could have been worse I suppose. That was an errant thought which came back to haunt me later. In the interim the nurse suggested breakfast and a drink and get the tests done later. No arguments here, nor from my husband, the gentleman in the peanut gallery offering hilarious solutions to the lack of blood. It’s always funny watching from the sidelines, I know I’ve been there too, but silently!

Welcomed back into the cool sanctuary of the home we quickly went to freshen up. Then it was back into the dining area where we were greeted with a freshly squeezed orange juice and a huge selection of fresh fruit, rhubarb and peach compotes and local yoghurt with the hostess’ own muesli blend. The entertainment from the birds continued as we were served with a delightful cheese souffle, accompanied by fresh asparagus spears and bacon. I have never yet managed to get a souffle to rise as beautifully as this, and it almost melted in your mouth. Refreshed and hunger assuaged we settled back with a cup of tea.

Just to show you how fluffy it was.

I’ll get the fruit next time.

King parrot

Pale headed Parrot

Hibiscus ?

Rainbow Lorikeets

It was hard to tear ourselves away but…. the pathology needed visiting before we could enjoy walking around town. Then we hit a larger snag to our ‘best laid plan’. After waiting quite a while in the surgery, since no-one told us we could just walk up and knock on the door, (usually I wait to be called in when it’s my turn), I went in and after she spent ten minutes deciphering all the requests she pronounced sentence, “You haven’t eaten, eggs, nuts, banana, etc, etc this morning have you?” she said. “It really should be a fasting test!” Well, that was that. Best laid plan up in smoke and not going out that day!
Not her fault but I was thoroughly put out. Finding her in town was one thing, waiting for her another, then to be told she couldn’t do it anyway. UGH! We walked around town, somewhat jaded, and I have to admit I was hot and itchy by now before finally settling for a visit to my favourite crystal shop to soak up those lovely vibes. Not a total waste then. We left feeling soothed by all that crystal energy and set off back to Byron.

I’m sorry to say the strain was too much, I really can’t take the heat and I fell asleep on the way home. I woke up in agony and had to be helped inside the house. Thankfully one plan I made had worked out magnificently. Knowing I would be away I had posts ready and scheduled for publishing, so I met my NaBloPoMo challenge and I’ve been tweaking photos and today’s blog.

It was to be an easy day. My tests are booked in and a mountain of messages have been attended to. Photos are all downloaded and labelled. Have you ever noticed how the names escape you if you don’t label them immediately? Brain fog, that’s my reason, that and the heat which fries my brain.

Here’s a lovely picture of the storm lilies which came out after the storm we had on the weekend. Delicate shade of pink on the edges, just beautiful.

Storm lilies

I hope you enjoy the views as much as we do. Plans are meant to be broken and sometimes you get amazing surprises as a result. If we hadn’t had our plans altered we wouldn’t have been able to spend time watching the birds, seen the King and Pale Headed parrots, which don’t hang around with the noisy Lorikeets. The Fire Tailed Finch was a real treat. It felt like we were being fortified for the disappointment we had no idea was coming. I’m grateful for that blessing.

Thanks Laurie, it wasn’t as arduous as it felt at the time… if that makes sense. I just don’t like the heat and it seems to seep into everything I do, especially in the summer (wry smile). Of courser, I don’t think our respective shared occupations make it easy to put up with being ‘jerked around’, so all in all, the scenery made up for the irritations. It was almost a shame to get in the car and leave it behind. I think I need a few pointers in the editing department… your displays looks great (thank heavens for spell checker – at times ).
Ciao, Susan x

That’s the good thing about a nice day out, going back to the reality of your life. I hate being messed around by anything, I’ve become the epitome of grumpy old fart lately. Oh you have to love spell checker, especially when you’re posting. If you mean setting out your post in an orderly block, then in the edit window when you’re writing it there is a toolbar with B, I a strikethrough etc and at the end is something like a keyboard. Put your mouse pointer on it and it should say, show/hide kitchen sink. If there’s another toolbar under it don’t click it, if there isn’t click the sink. There is a box with four lines in it, this is your justified control. Click in your text then click the box, viola a nice neat page. Sometimes you have to do it on separate sections, or you can highlight all your text and click the box.
So endeth the lesson.
Cheers
Laurie.

Laurie, I’m still working out where everything is you talked about.., the brain fog has descended. I can’t take my usual pain meds because of a test – 48 hours without so I have to use the “you beaut new drug’ and it makes my head float in the stratosphere and my feet are stuck in the mud… I think I have Mr Magoo’s specs on because they keys are moving on the keyboard. Luck – I need all I can get. 🙂 Aint life grand though.
Ciao my friend
Susan x

I’m glad you had some nice surprises to enjoy in between all the not-so-nice surprises. It’s beyond irritating when medical personnel don’t inform patients of important things like the need to be fasting. That just happened to my husband too, only he didn’t have quite so long of a journey. The birds, views and flowers are beautiful! I hope you can rest up now to recover from this ordeal.

Thanks Trisha, it took a little while for the Irish to calm down but the view helped a lot. At least we know a great place to stay when I need to go back again…. that cheese souffle was magical!
Ciao, Susan x

A magical place. I’m looking forward to going back to the BnB at Wootha. The bed was great, the breakfast incredible, and the hosts were lovely… Being there with someone special made it perfect – then we had to go out and do ‘stuff’, and the only thing I can say about that is it makes a great subject for a blog! Next time – we’ll do it better!